Philippines set to file criminal case against Chinese businessman Tony Yang
Tony, the elder brother of an economic adviser of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, is accused of having links to illegal gaming operators
Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tony faced multiple cases, including identity theft and violation of immigration laws, and he would not be sent back to China where he was wanted for financial fraud.
“We have a choice between immediate deportation and filing of criminal cases, I think the filing of criminal cases takes precedence now,” Remulla said at a news conference on Tuesday.
His remarks came as Tony told senators at a hearing he was a Chinese national, who illegally obtained his Filipino citizenship after arriving in the country in 1998 to reportedly help his grandfather run their family business, which included a steel plant allegedly linked to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) firm in Misamis Oriental province.
Tony added he was not involved in the Pogo but admitted to acquiring a gun licence and a Philippine birth certificate, which he said was sourced by his grandfather for the “convenience” of operating their businesses in the country.